The SCARIEST ROAD you've never heard of
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- čas přidán 6. 09. 2024
- Hey friends, we've driven on some scary, hairy, drives on our 3 year Big Lap of Australia, but the drive up (AND DOWN) Jacob's Ladder in Ben Lomond National Park in Tasmania would have to be the scariest.
This UNSEALED road winds its way up the side of a cliff, rounding SIX switchbacks on the way. We weren't sure if our Long Wheel Base LWB Sprinter van would make it around the corners, and with a couple of near misses on the first bend I was sweating buckets!
Fortunately Nigel is experienced at driving on such mountain roads, and did his usual stellar job getting us up and down safely.
After that stressful journey we relax for an evening with friends at Liffey Falls before hiking to the Liffey Falls cascades. Just another beautiful time in Tasmania.
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WHO ARE WE?
We are Nigel and Sue (NaS) Adventures, a couple of outdoor adventurers. We've been Overlanding Australia living in our self-converted 4x4 Sprinter van since January 2021. Join us as we visit the highlights, but also share some off the beaten path hidden gems, along with the day to day realities of living in a van.
Keep up to date with our adventures on instagram at / nas_adventures
Or Facebook / nigelandsueadventures
Great video! What amazing scenery! I think Nigel was enjoying Sue's quiet terror rather too much though 😂
He always does the big meanie!!
@@nigelandsueadventures😂😂
Loved it, thank you. Can't see me driving up that road!
Yeah me either! So glad it was Nigel behind the wheel!
Nigel, “she’s having kittens”!! Love it , hope I can remember to say it when needed…
This episode has been my favourite for Tas, the ugged scenery, the vehicle hike to the top of Ben Lommond and the falls, l can imagine the force of water over those rocks in the snow melt. Tassie may be little in size compared to the rest of Oz but it certainly takes the cake for having the greatest amount of stunning places to see within that small footprint! Thank you once again, Nigel and Sue, for taking us to more incredible places in Oz. You two are truly inspiring!
We were amazed Lee. We thought we would see everything in 6 weeks and have some rest days. Nope!
OMG! yes, that was sooo scary! Beautiful water falls, lovely photography.
Scary but fun! Thanks for watching Dee!!
Thanks, that was scary enough just sitting in my lounge chair. The filming was incredible
Thank you! Would have been so much easier with the drone.
Spectacular views and falls, but yeah nah, you won’t see me driving that scary road 😂
Thanks for sharing guys
I would not have driven either!
Incredible scenery, jacobs ladder looks absolutely stunning, you captured it perfectly, I was just as terrified as you Sue , going up that mountain. I would have been hyperventilating 😂 Lol. Your braver than me. Excellent video, That hike into the rainforest and waterfall was so beautiful, I’m really looking forward to seeing the next one.
Safe travels
Thanks so much Jeanie! Hopefully you’ll enjoy the next one just as much, it’s pretty special!
Great adventures! We just got back from visiting our son in Alaska. . . You would love it! And best news we finally got our van. Let the build begin 😊
Oh that’s so exciting Roberta! What sort of van did you get?
Wow what a road! Such beautiful scenery! It really is such a stunning place 😍
Thanks guys! We really enjoyed this part of the journey!
Well that was a fantastic video. Jacob’s ladder looked extra scary but spectacular scenery and cliff face. The water falls were lovely. You did a great job with the editing Sue … nice work! 🤗💕
Thanks so much Lynne! I procrastinated on this one for a while, but I really enjoyed it when I got going.
Thanks for another amazing video. Spectacular views! ❤
Glad you enjoyed it! The views were incredible!
great video. i appreciate the effort that you took for it. safe travels x
Thank you Cheryl, it was an experience, that’s for sure!
"I'm not looking down Nigel" 😂 I think I would've got out and walked lol. What a majestic landscape. Wonderful. Watching your journey through Tassie has me dreaming about hooking up my vintage caravan and heading off on my own adventure. Maybe next summer. If you want to see wombats you need to head to Wilson's Prom National Park in South Gippsland. Give us a call if you're passing through Korumburra👋 Happy Travels :)
Oh we saw so many wombats at Wilson’s Prom! Have you seen that episode?
You should definitely go down there in your van!
@@nigelandsueadventures Apologies, I'm new to your channel and haven't seen that episode yet. Yes we've taken our caravan to Wilson's Prom and had wombats scratching their backs on the chassis causing the whole van to rock lol :D
No need to apologise! 🧡 that would have been interesting with the wombats rocking the van haha did you know what it was?
I am a bit amazed at that sign "Up traffic to give way to down traffic". In the European Alps it is just the other way around, which makes much more sense. If you lose momentum going up because you have to yield, you have a hard time pulling out again, especially on gravel. The down traffic only has to stop and release the brake again afterwards.
The drive itself looked cool, calm and collected. In fact, engine braking with low range is such a help in these cases.
Everyone wanting to have a go, remember when driving an automatic to actually select 1st gear (or L) so that the box does not shift up by itself losing your engine brake.
Excellent film edit, well worth the effort you put in!
Around 1987-88 I worked in Hobart for 2 weeks in June, staying part way up Mt Wellington. Every morning there were Tassie Devils on the sides of the road, hit by cars, much like the wombats here in Yarra Valley. They were prolific, and could see the scurrying through the bush from my stay, and hear them at night.
So sad that they have been decimated by the facial tumour disease
Wow again! Thanks guys.
Thanks for tuning in David!
Sphincter tightening video ......Amazing driving Nige thanks for going to so much trouble much appreciated from Bunbury western Australia x
Yes Nigel says the same, well, he says puckering!
Loved this episode. Thank you for all the effort you’ve put into filming and editing this to show us the scale and beauty of Jacob’s Ladder. Lost it at ‘Old BA’ 😂
Entertaining as always 👌🏽👌🏽
Thanks so much guys, glad you enjoyed it. Have you booked your Tassie trip yet?
@@nigelandsueadventures not yet. We still have a bit of time up here in the north, then WA. I see us doing a good 6 months there starting probably end of 2025(ish)
@@miaandryanadvantures 6 months would be a good amount of time there.
No. Way. Not now, not ever!!! Ill happily stay in safe St Helens 😅
This road reminds me of travelling through the Himalayas, going up to Rhotang Pass from the north. 😂
Indeed. Akin to being on a bus in the Himalayas. With eyes closed on the odd occasion 😅
Oh I can only imagine how scary the roads are there! I did the valley road from Kathmandu to Pokhara in a bus and that was bad enough!
@@nigelandsueadventures I remember being on a bus going down the mountain, with another bus coming up the mountain. Such a narrow winding road with not enough room to pass that the buses nudged, the two bus drivers got off, had fisty cuffs, and then got back on their respective buses and off we continued. Apparently that's how it's done... my travelling companion and I just looked at each other in disbelief... lol
@@LeeOla8 😮😮😮
@@LeeOla8 oh my gosh! Nowadays everyone would have their iPhone out filming the fisty cuffs
Just love your sound effects Sue! I'm exactly the same!!! We didn't get to do Jacob's Ladder when we were in Tassie, as we were in a big rented 6 berth motorhome. Will definitely do it next time, when we have the 4wd 😁 Liffey Falls looked stunning too. Nigel is looking well, considering the broken arse!! Impressive to do a 6km walk 👌
Yea the BA has healed quite well thank goodness!!
Thanks for this video we'll have a go at the ladder in 3 weeks.
Good luck! Hope you get a good weather day like we did.
Wow , what an awesome road . Thank you for sharing, I can’t wait to do it for myself 😅
It was amazing, but scary!
I live in Northern Tasmania and have loved seeing my state through your eyes. Your passion and excitement is awesome! As beautiful as Ben Lomond is I would not of gone up there, too scary!
Oh thank you Carolyn! We absolutely loved Tassie. Already looking forward to a return visit.
Wow. That is some stunning scenery. I can't believe we missed that when we traveled Tassie, but then I doubt the Ford Capri hire car would have made it.
Haha. What’s the saying with a hire car? “Drive it like you stole it”
Loved this one. All the old haunts we used to go to when I was a kid living there. Don't remember Ben Lomand being that scary 😅
I think stuff gets scarier as you get older. That’s definitely the way it is for me anyways
@@nigelandsueadventures I 100% agree I've developed a fear of heights as well. Beautiful vlog
Can’t wait to drive it!
Easy in a traditional 4x4 bit a long van?……
Hehe
Yeah, tricky on those bits where the rain has made big channels in the road and you end up with 2 wheels off the ground!
Hey Nigel and Sue another amazing video. I am with you Sue I was hanging on for dear life when we were driving up Jacobs ladder. I could not image what it was like for you loosing traction. I would have been out of the van and walking. We only got half way as we were to meet friend and Coen was going to ride up, but we got our wires crossed and it didn't happen. It is an amazing view, even from just half way up. Liffey falls are beautiful, it is a pity that it is so dry in Tassie at the moment. We lived at Liffey for several years in Tassie and it is such a beautiful place. Thank you again for sharing your travels with us. BA did an amazing job walking to the falls and back. Stay safe. Coen and Jay
Haha I’m laughing at you calling him BA too!
No disrespect meant Nigel 😀@@nigelandsueadventures
@@jaydegier3892 none taken at all 🧡
Jacob’s Ladder looks a lot like Mt Barrow Rd. Ben Lomond is one of the few places in Tassie I haven’t been to. I did Mt Barrow Rd in my ancient 1976 Toyota Hiace in the mid 1990s and one of my passengers decided to get out and walk…
Thanks for the hard work showcasing our beautiful state!👍
Where is Mt Barrow Road?
@@nigelandsueadventures as the crow flies only about 25km NW of Ben Lomond. It’s a bit closer to Launceston.
@@NoName-ds5uq beautiful part of the world!
Great editing on that ep! Shame you didn’t go for a walk up the top (Summit Loop Walk) as it is absolutely beautiful. But then I guess two goes at the road must have taken some time…
Omfg, we went through some hairy roads in Tassie in our 2WD sprinter a short time ago and thought that was scary, nothing compared to Jacob’s ladder, that’s crazy. 😮 hope your BA feels better Nigel. 😊
Thanks Wendy! The BA is all healed now
Great video,I guess nigel saved the key then? I have often wondered how it would go if it got wet.
Yes thankfully the van started first go! I think it was important to rinse it in fresh water though.
brilliant!
Thank you!!
As soon as I read the title I knew it was Jacob's Ladder lol
It's so good hey?
@@nigelandsueadventures I'm pretty sure my eyes were shut the entire time and I have avoided it ever since so I couldn't tell you 😂
Could have been a great ride down on the bike Sue? Ex skid kid rider here :)
So long as no cars were coming up!
and it wasn't even snowing!
God that would be super scary! We had great weather!
Well done doing that road twice , did it remind you of driving in NZ
Yes and the Trollstigen Road in Norway!
A great bit of filming and editing, well done! They would not be allowed to construct that road these days. Too many environmental objections, and rightly so. But we are glad they did.. I remember it being a nice drive in #Smoky60Series and no problems, but I think we may have problems in #AngelaMerc with the tight bends where the wheels tend to hop and spin even with four wheels at the rear. What do you reckon Nigel.
Thanks Bill! We know people who’ve done it in a 2wd van, I think it would depend on the road condition. That first bend was really rain damaged when we drove up there.
noice vid -- gotta start back a bit to get a feel for ya travels.....
Cheers! Hope you enjoy them. Thanks for watching
Wait till you do Jacobs Ladder in snow ❄️ you did it dry, nothing scary about it in the dry. 🤣😂
Errrr no thanks!!
Man you are tough Sue. He should be resting that arse, not hiking all over Liffy.
Haha don’t blame me! It’s impossible to keep him still.
I think that helmet saved your life. I hope you've gotten a new one now.
Is Derby, in Tasmania, pronounced like the word “dirty”, or like the word Barby, as in England?
I'm pretty sure it's like dirty, but I always get confused!!
I have trouble wrapping my head around WHY ...If there is no one to be assumed .."perving," on.....can't you use a drone ? They have this restriction way out in WOOP WOOP at times!??? To my mind ...it's authority gone mad!! Just 'cause they can.😢
I know in the national
Parks there is concern about disturbing the wildlife.
Nice video. You haven't driven the worst of them. You won't be able to take a van. The drive up Mt Barrow is far worse.
Yeah a few people have mentioned Mt Barrow! Nigel has driven a lot worse in NZ and then the Trollstigen in Norway too.